Automatic signal.



\ mama G. C. RENSHAW.

AUTOMATIC SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28. 19:4.

Patent-ed May 7,1918,

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

- C C. REN'SHAW.

Patented May 7, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

3. c. RENSHAW, AUTOMAHC SiGNALn APPLICATION HLED MAY 28, 191

, W255? iatemed; May 7', 1918- 3 SHEETSSHEET 3X CHARLES C. RENSHAW, OF CHICAGO, IL LIN 01S.

AUTOMATIC SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May i, 1918.

Application filed May 28, 1914. Serial No. 841,431.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. RENSHAW, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Signals; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Accidents often happen in crowded thoroughfares, especially rear end collisions between vehicles, the congestion in city traffic, preventing the drivers of the vehicles from ascertaining the probable movements of the vehicle ahead, and this is particularly true in the case of motor cars.

This invention relates to a means for automatically displaying a signal on the rear of a vehicle for the benefit of drivers on other vehicles behind, when a stop or turn is to be made, thus giving the operator in the rear ample time in which to determine a course of procedure.

It is an object of this invention to provide signal display means on motor driven or other vehicles whereby such means is connected for actuation with the mechanism controlling the movement of the vehicle, to thus automatically move the signaling means into display position when said vehicle controlling mechanism is operated.

It is also an object of this invention to construct double signaling means, each connected to the controlling mechanism of a motor car for automatic operation therewith, and so constructed as to permit only one of the signals to be displayed at one time.

It is also an object of this invention to provide signaling means which are connected to one of the controlling levers of a motor vehicle to be positively moved into signaling position when said lever is actuated.

it is also an object of this invention to provide double signaling means suitably associated with clutches whereby either one of said signals may be moved into signaling position by actuation of the controlling mechanism of a vehicle.

It is furthermore an object of this invenparticularly tion to construct a signaling means suitably connected for operation by clutches .and gears adapted to be operated automatically when the controlling levers of a vehicle are actuated, and in which the clutches are of a nature to permit relative movement between the parts thereof in the event of carelessness or mistake on the part of the operator to prevent destruction of the device.

It is finally an object of this invention to construct a device simple in operation and consisting of few parts, adapted to be automatically thrown into operation by actuation of the controlling levers of a vehicle.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a conventional top plan view of an automobile chassis with my invention adapted thereto.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary'rear elevation of a vehicle illustrating the signaling mechanism in operation.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the front portion of a motor vehicle showing a controlling clutch or brake lever with the signaling mechanism connected thereto for simultaneous operation therewith.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view illustrating the controlling lever with the signal operating mechanism connected thereon.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of the rear portion of the vehicle chassis showing the signaling means connected thereon. I

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation taken on line.

6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 77 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 88 of Fig. 7, with parts in elevation.

Fig. 9 1s an enlarged front view of the stop signal arm.

Fig. 10 is a similar view of the turn signal arm.

As shown in the drawings:

Referring to Fig. 1 the side sills 1, of

the chassis are suitably connected together by transverse members 2, and at the rear by a transverse member 3.

Suitably mounted upon the chassis frame, as is usual, is a motor 4, a combined fly wheel 51.3161 clutch 5, a transmissiee 6. a diffferemfiial '3, and at driving shafi; 8, between he difi'erentiai and the transmission. A. shaft 9, is journaled. transversely of the chassis, preferably the clutch whereby suiiable connections may be effected therebeeween, but for cenvenience of illustrw (Lien. such connections-are net shown here, Momma? 011 said shaft 9, e lever 3.0, pew videci with a ir'oet pedal 11, he feetperiei ef course projecting upwarrliy through. a suieable slet in the flooring iihe vehicle boy. A crank 12, is rigidly secured on said transverse shaft 9 eiizi. cenneeted thereto is m a rearwezdiy exienfing rod 13, which etits ether extremity is pivetaliy connected to crank M, secured en a rotatebie trans- "VulSQ shaft 15, near the rear of the chassis frame. 7

A supplementary transverse shaft 16. is jeurnaled' in the chassis frame near the shaft 9, anoi is providedwith a, ierwerciiy extermiing downwardly curved crank; arm 17, adapted $9 be engaged by e relatively long arm 18, 0f a bell crank piveixeiiy mounted en the lever 10, the eflie and of said bell email-c being provideci with a pivoted ink 0:: pin member 19, prefieezing thireegh aperture in the pedal 1.1; end adapted te E flexed, namely, a, seep sigeei signal 32, each ene 03? which is aetuetabie im'o signaling position by the clutch coliar member A spring 33, normally wound about the sleeve 2?, beers at one of its eniie' against; a eolizu- 3;, Which in turn bears against a bevel pinien 35, and said spring at its ether end bears against ihe sliding e01- Ear 26, to nernmily thrust the same for-- Were Hy, thus normally maintaining file clutch collar 29,in engagement with. the step signal 31. Said sleeve 27, is jeurnaled in a bearing 36, secured on the"xzhassis frame member 3, and. also in a bearing membe? 37, forming a part of the bracket 38, which is likewise secured to said frame inemberg, the bevel pinion 3?), being keyeci uwli the sleeve 2'7, and prevented from. loiigituclinai nmvement thereen under theimpu'ise of the spring by the bearing pertien' flef eeiii bracket 38 I I Thus Whenever the pinien 35, is l'otate'd, the sleeve 2?, remtee therewith e116; sensequently -,the chick eelilai- 29', and eitherene oi the ether of the stop and iiiirngsigml membees and 32, respective? me'vethere; with, depending epen the pesiisietn Ofseiii clutch mile? 29. memes -e3',""eis v =i 0i the emiis seeeireei' a 116?. sleeve iii e'iiy 'suiiiebi'e mai man; eii

eomzac'ieci by the lc'eoit ef opera-tee ize heels aflbriimg a step fie Q lgxigjifiil'fiin mm the bell creek enri the Q'Ae k 1?} th r 4121113. mevaeie r5 5 "28 Well by, when pedai is depeessefi. V ups/1:1 wizich the signal H'Slhfi 0.. 'isfs'ep i flee ceeneeteai on said 3.6, one perk d. I v em? thereof is a dewnwerdiy extending {founieieil in 'shi bracket shaft- 2 crank an: 20, m which is pivufiefly e0nnect- =49, on me end or? which ieseeuired alarge 1% ed a rearweraiiy exeending red 21, "which at bevel gear 41, meshing" with the ifievei' pinother end is pivotel iy een'z'eeeized to e ion 35, and en iis ei'hei' end Wiih e ("drank L2 creek 2%, seeeredmi sneeve reteiebfie e21 eh is pivemiiy eonneetec? $116113; 8, Mid transverse shaft 15" whine its e-her end is iiivealiybeim'ecied @e signaling meeh mism, mewfated ei)v 3 e even 4 depending iFr-em 'it'iie shafii'fiii. 1%

"the rear end e3? the ehassis awe and is Suitebie steps 45 end' lfi, respeetivei jgeee' etlepfied "(.0 be opewiiewi. by emems Lesse disposed convenientlyon reef 0f the, eiate with said. shaft 15, and said sliee've Vehicle as" shown in Fig. 2,- to iimijt' em; which of course ere eperexte; jizhreugh 'bhe movement of the signeberms- 31; and" 32,

zaieel mnism iescribed at the Emm em? 03''? the and e guerzi or screen -17, is seem'efi en 'ifhe 5"? chassis F01 this'pe.1=pese an mime ally ex shaggy-fragile member 3,a,mi;g rejeees"ei1ttending crank is ggmvidefl. en eei. sieeve wardlv be peetee'c mi 'eeeeal the. sigieifil" 533., and is connected by means suitable membezs when the seine are in pesitien me he 25, to ii-flggfi en a, slifieb'ie e1 iii: is $0 be meter} thefiihe arms 563 (501321 which rem-"nee with anti siixies pee. the member] engied,'enei e sleeve :27, eenieiniiig shaft or rcd 28,?40 103' the mm of efi'oriing e-spece between w which said 0011M 26, 1s eminent-e51 by meme the rear 01 em vehicle body am? the trans 0f transverse pin, perene fiisks Seep e116 Tum respectively, 03%" Anether eiiclec-Ie seller or clutch member the *gnei members, ee-thab when the same 5:3 52.9 is siidebiy momztei en said sleeve 23' are rewnupw erly i'nte display pesition end is suitabiy'eeimeeteci msaid eeisuaifiing they in front of the tail light 48, enthe" she'fifi 28, by means efi a, pin 3Q email we em ie vemeie, so as m be easilv visible m:- night'. 5 cf said collar clutch member 29., site sermtei Tfiie'opemtienis as feliewsz 1 as shewe eieariy in. Fig 41. The pin 3-30, in elei xing up gear or bringing the Sims M which e1. ceerse extends thmiigh the cheek .10 a stem the eperaior'izistinctifidy eetuafies 125 collar 29,- ee well the sleeve W #12151 shaft the 'el'u ch and brake foot peiiale in succes-e rod 28,.ee12streine said clutch 201121" 530 1a siezi. inasmuch as the clutch .pefle-Ii is usu- Wi h said sleeve 2?, e133 aetueied belfme the'bmke yeJEa'LTheve Two transparent; ciispliay Sign shown the actuating mechanismfor may-M1 wine-tiesignaling meansas connecteei to-the.

' verse shaft 15, to the bevel member 32, and of clutch pedal, although it is clearly obvious that the mechanism may be connected to any other lever on the vehicle or even to the steering apparatus, to throw the signaling means into operation.

When the operator of a vehicle intends to slow up or stop the car, the downward movement of theclutch pedal is transferred to the signal means through the crank 12, rod 13, and crank 14, and thence from the transgear 41, through the suitable link and crank connections de scribed. 'Thus the rotation of the bevel gear 41, effected by movement of the clutch lever, serves to rotate the bevel pinion 35, and consequently the clutch collar 29, which being normally in engagement with the nal member 31, raises the same into signaling position, and of course when the clutch pedal is released, a reverse movement of the bevel gear takes place, thus lowering the si naling member to concealed position. I-Ibwever, when a turn is to be made, the operator moves his foot upwardly on the clutch pedal 11, and depresses the pin 19, which throws the bell crank lever 18, inwardly upon the curved crank arm 17, so that as the clutch lever is depressed said crank 17, is also moved, and such movement is transmitted to the signal member 32, through suitable connections similar to those already described. The sleeve 23, is thus actuated to project the collar 26, inwardly, and of course the clutch collar 29, therewith, causing the latter to engage the turn signal course the downward movement of the clutch pedal having caused a rotation of the gear 41, as before, rotation of said clutch collar member 29, engaged with the turn signal member 32, causes an elevation of the latter to visible position.

purpose of insuring'a cealecl position and there would The purpose of curving the crank arm 17, is to prevent actuation thereof when the clutch pedal is actuated without depressing the pin 19, and when such is the ease the bell crank 18, will merely track over the curved portion of the crank 17, and cause no move ment thereof.

The serrations on the clutch member and upon the signal members are merely for the good frictional contact therebetween, but not a positive engagement, so that in the event of a partial or incomplete movement of a signal member, due to a mistake by the operator, the mechanismcannot be damaged.

mg an elevation of the turn member with a downward movement of the clutch pedal, then should allow the clutch pedal to return to normal pressed, of course the turn signal member would not be positively returned to conbe a tendency to jam the stop member, owing to the stop sig- Also if the operator should depress the pin 19, thus causwithout the pin 19, still deengagement of the clutch member 29, with said latter member under the impulse of the spring 33. But as stated, the serrations do not effect a positive engagement of the members and no damage can occur, and furthermore the signal members are construct ed to normally fall by gravity into the concealed position unless positively supported in position for use by the mechanism, so that at no time, owing to the inadvertence of the operator, can a signal member be left in displayed position after the clutch pedal has returned to normal.

I claim as my invention:

' 1. An automatic signaling device for automobiles comprising signal members, mechanism for pivotally supporting the same at the rear of an automobile, a clutch mechanism adapted to selectively engage the signal members and mechanism for operating the clutch mechanism connected with and operated by one of the operating levers of the automobile.

2. In a device of the class described a plurality of signal members, a clutch mechanism adapted to engage any of said signal members, mechanism for adjusting the signal engaged into signaling position and a mechanism adapted to actuate the clutch and signal adjusting mechanisms collectively or independently.

3. In an automobile signaling device, a plurality of signals, mechanism for pivotally, mounting said signals at the rear of the automobile, a clutch mechanism normally engaging one of the signals, and CO". operating mechanisms adapted to shift the signal normally engaged to view position or to shift the blutch to engage any signal and to throw the signal so engaged to view posi tion.

4. In a device of the class described, a plurality of signal members, a unitary clutch element therebetween, means for selectively elevating each one of said signal members into position for use, a plurality of driving ineans for said element, and mechanism connected to the controlling mechanismiofla vehicle to cause movement of said driving means.

5. In a device of the class described signal members, clutch mechanism for operating the same connected to the controlling lever of a vehicle to which the same is attached and mechanism pivotally secured on said lever and extending therethrough op-- mating the signal engaged bythe clutch to View position and mechanism for autemati cally returning the clutch to its normal air gaging position after being released,

7. A signaling device. for automobiles comprising a, plurality of, concentric shafts, signals rotatable on said shafts, a clutch on one of said shafts adapted to rotatecthc si nals and mechanism far operating the elm-F11;

to engage bi signgais and. adjust the 10 signal t0 iew position. 3

In testlmony whereof 1 have hereunto subscl figed my name "in the presencecf twc CHEBRLES G. RENSHAWI, Wztnesses: v

FRANK 1&1 HUDSON.

suhccribing WitDQSSES Q LES WV Ems, J12, 

